Military briefs

VISTA ---- The Rotary Club of Vista will join the Military
Outreach Ministry on the anniversary of 9/11 for a food drive to
show appreciation for military service men and women from 10 a.m.
to 2 p.m. Sept. 11 at Vons, 940 S. Santa Fe Ave. During the drive,
volunteers will provide shopping lists of suggested food items to
donate to military families as shoppers enter the store. Food
donations will be accepted at the volunteer station as shoppers
exit the store. Call 760-724-1520 or visit mom4usa.org .

Programs

Program addresses abuse

MIRAMAR ---- Marine Corps Community Services Miramar, Marine and
Family Services offers the Drug Demand Reduction Program, which
provides joint training for officers and senior leaders addressing
issues related to drug use and alcohol abuse along with providing
unit briefs. Presentations are tailored to meet the needs of each
unit command. The program provides semi-monthly Substance Abuse
Control Officers training, Marine Alcohol Awareness Course and
Marine Drug Awareness Course. Coordinators are prepared to speak on
a range of subjects to include, but not limited to: the disease of
addiction, medical aspects, binge drinking, alcohol, drugs,
suicide, designer drugs and more. The program sponsors a 5k run
three times annually in conjunction with Health Promotion and
Single Marine Programs and coordinates annual Red Ribbon Week
activities to raise awareness on the the danger of drug use and the
impact on Marines and sailors. Hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays
at Bldg. 2274. Call 858-577-6585 or visit mccsmiramar.com .

Veterans services available

NORTH COUNTY ---- Interfaith Community Services offers a variety
of veterans services, including:

-- Emergency Shelter: Men's Bunkhouse

-- Transitional Housing (Oceanside and Escondido)

-- Homeless Veterans Reintegration Project

-- Workforce Investment Act

-- Homeless Outreach Projects & Evaluation (HOPE)

-- Psychological Services

Interfaith Community Services is located at The Betty &
Melvin Cohn Center, 550 W. Washington Ave., Suite B, Escondido and
at the Coastal Service Center, 2195 Oceanside Blvd., Oceanside. For
information about services, call 760-489-6380 for the Escondido
office or 760-721-2117 for the Oceanside office and ask for a Vet
Rep.

Assistance for homeless veterans

OCEANSIDE ---- The Veterans Village of San Diego offers North
County Veteran Employment Services at 4079-A Oceanside Blvd. The
North County office provides services through the Homeless Veterans
Reintegration Project, a Department of Labor vocational training
program for homeless veterans, that includes counseling, supportive
services, job training, job placement assistance, assessment and
referrals, short-term vocational training, interview/work clothing,
transportation assistance and tools, books and supplies. Call
760-724-9765 or e-mail maureen.hanley@vvsd.net .

Healing program with horses

RANCHO SANTA FE ---- Pegasus Rising is a rescue and recovery
organization that partners a herd of rescued horses with humans for
various healing programs at the privately owned Valenti Ranch. The
Equine Assisted Experiential Health Therapy Program is offered free
of charge to returning combat veterans (active duty or retired) and
their caregiver families and is specifically designed to provide
assistance to U.S. military personnel in readjusting back into
their family and civilian life. This program is suitable for those
with emotional trauma, such as veterans of war suffering from or
diagnosed with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and/or Traumatic
Brain Injury. The program also includes couples and/or family
sessions for military families to address family-based issues since
their loved ones returned from overseas duty. Call 760-994-0024 or
visit PegasusRising.org .